Pink is unlikely the first colour that comes to mind as far as natural lakes are concerned, but Mother Earth does her wonders again. Not only one but in fact, there are quite a few dazzling pink-coloured lakes in Australia.

Unusual but definitely mesmerizing, the causes of this natural phenomenon of having the pinky-touch in the lake water can be varied, but the most common explanation is due to the existence of algae and salt. Depending on seasons and conditions, the colours can sometimes be more vibrant and bolder.

There is however, a forever-pink lake in Western Australia that does not go out of colour. Lake Hillier is a natural wonder on Middle Island, the largest of the islands that make up the Recherche Archipelago off the coast of Esperance.

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Lake Hillier

The lake is about 600 meters in length, and is surrounded by a rim of sand and dense woodland of paperbark and Eucalyptus trees. A narrow strip of sand dunes covered by vegetation separates it from the blue Southern Ocean.

No-one fully understands why the lake is pink. Scientists speculate that the colour comes from a dye created by bacteria that lives in the salt crusts. Its pink colour is less accentuated when viewed from the surface but it is very prominent from above. 

The Lake Hillier was first discovered in 1802 by explorer Matthew Flinders who took samples from the lake and mentioned its existence in his journal.

The Pink Lake (Spencer Lake)

There are at least 3 pink lakes in Western Australia, but Spencer Lake is the only one that has been named as Pink Lake. However, it has not been ‘pink’ for quite a while, which is why the Pink Lake is often mistaken as Lake Hillier, even though they are located in two different places.

The Pink Lake is just 7 kilometers from the town of Esperance. Under the right weather conditions, the lake turns a soft shade of pink due to the high concentration of algae in the water. The lake has not turned pink for a while due to the climate.

Hutt Lagoon

From bright bubblegum pink to occasionally even red, the waters of Hutt Lagoon can be an extraordinary sight on the drive between Port Gregory and Kalbarri. The lake is believed to boast a pink hue created by the presence of carotenoid-producing algae, Dunaliella salina.

The lagoon is about 70 square kilometers with most of it lying a few meters below sea level. It is separated from the Indian Ocean by a beach barrier ridge and barrier dune system. 

Occasionally Pink 

Lake Eyre, South Australia

Lake Eyre is a dry expanse of shimmering salt in the South Australian Outback, in a basin so large that it crosses the borders of three states. As the lake dries up and the water evaporates, its salinity increases and it often appears to turn pink. This is in fact caused by a pigment found within an algae species that lives in the lake.

Pink Lake, Meningie – South Australia

On the road between Tailem Bend and Meningie is the Pink Lake. These pink lakes are quite common in dryer areas and are coloured by the presence of algae known as beta carotene in the waters.

Quairading Pink Lake, Western Australia

At certain times of the year, one side of the lake becomes dark pink, while the other side remains a light pink colour. During summer, evaporation causes the water level to drop and salt builds up on the banks and trees. When the water returns, the salt causes the pink colour.

Westgate Park’s lake, Victoria

Westgate Park’s Salt Lake turned pink in response to very high salt levels, high temperatures, sunlight and lack of rainfall. Algae growing in the salt crust at the bottom of the lake produces the red pigment (beta carotene) as part of its photosynthesis process and in response to the extremely high salt levels.

Murray-Sunset National Park, Victoria

There are four salt lakes in the park- Lake Crosbie, Lake Becking, Lake Kenyon and Lake Hardy. The lakes’ waters are actually crystal clear and the beds of the four lakes are made up of solid salt. However, it is the red algae (Dunaliella salina), which grows in the water that gives the lakes their pink hue. 

粉红色，绝不会是你对湖泊的第一个颜色联想，但偏偏大地之母就爱不靠谱的给我们带来惊喜，粉红湖就如此惊艳登场，而且在澳洲不仅有一个粉红湖，散落各地的粉红湖等着旅人来寻宝呢！

其实这粉红湖有各种因素导致蓝变红，其中最常见的情况是因藻类及盐所造成，同时气候及季节的变化也会使粉红湖湖水的色泽产生变化。

至于在澳洲的粉红湖中就以西澳的希利尔湖最为有名，而且将粉红进行到底，一年四季都粉红，是埃斯佩兰斯海岸外的一道奇观，处于洛切切群岛中最大的岛屿─中央岛。

希利尔湖
这粉红湖长达600公尺，并由白千层及桉树茂密的林地及沙滩环绕着，而湖与海之间仅相隔着一座狭长的沙丘带。

这湖水染红的导因至今无人能解，而根据科学家推测，可能源自盐壳中的细菌所制造出的色素。然而，站在湖旁观色，这粉红湖的水色较淡，但只要从上方俯瞰，这却是不折不扣的粉红湖。

希利尔湖是于1802年被探险家马修费莲达发现，当时他还取了湖水样本，并记截于其探险日志中。

粉红湖(Spencer Lake)
在西澳有至少3座粉红湖，但只有此湖被命名为粉红湖。不过，这湖水已久未粉红，所以一提起粉红湖，经常被误会为是希利尔湖，但事实是，这是两座在完全不同地方的湖泊。

粉红湖距离埃斯佩兰斯市7公里，如果天作美，湖水会因密集的藻类变得粉红，但这老天就是不作美，导致粉红湖久未露出真本色了。

赫特潟湖
这湖水偶而是艳丽的粉红，有时也会是烈日当红。只要途经格雷戈里小镇及卡尔巴里之间，就不难发现这一道美景。一般相信这湖水因杜氏盐藻产生的类胡萝卜素而染红。这潟湖面积达70平方公里，与印度洋之间仅由山岭及沙丘相隔。

偶而粉红

艾尔湖，南澳
艾尔湖地区是澳洲最干旱、最低的地理点，因横跨3州，也是澳洲最大的咸水湖。当湖水蒸发，盐度增加之际，便会出现粉红色的结晶，而这也是藻类的杰作。

梅宁吉粉红湖，南澳
在泰勒姆本德及梅宁吉之间有一座粉红湖，也因藻类产生的胡萝卜素而导致较干燥处变红。

Quairading粉红湖，西澳
一年内在固定的时段，一边的湖水呈深红而另一边则是粉红色，这是因为湖水蒸发时，在湖边及树上残留的盐份，会在湖水恢复时呈粉红色。

西门公园的湖泊，维多利亚
因高盐、高温、烈日及缺雨染红了西门公园的湖泊。这是因为湖中的藻类因光合作用所产生的胡萝卜素遇上高盐而变色。

穆累-日落国家公园，维多利亚
在这国家公园内有4座咸水湖，即Crosbie、Becking、Kenyon及Hardy湖，虽然湖水清澈，但因湖底的高盐成份遇上红藻而让湖水看似有点粉红。